Chapter XVII: In the Cave

The cave was an irregular one of uncertain depth. The opening lay under a big, jagged rock, with other rocks on either side. One after another they passed into the underground chamber without much trouble.

“It’s rather dark,” said Jack. “Hadn’t we better light a torch?”

“By all means,” said the teacher, and went out and got a pine branch. This burnt very well, although it made quite some smoke. They advanced with caution, for the cave was not very high and nobody wanted to strike his head on the sharp rocks above. In some places the tree-roots hung down like so many snakes.

“By the way, I wonder if there are any snakes in here?” observed Dale, when from under a rock glided a reptile about two feet long, followed by another a trifle smaller. Dale let out a yell and retreated, and so did the other boys.

“They are harmless,” called out George Strong. “They are common wood-snakes. See, they have crawled out of sight already. They are more scared than you are.”

“I must say I hate snakes,” said Jack. “I am willing to leave them alone if only they will leave me alone.”

“The trouble is, most folks know very little about snakes,” said the teacher. “Why, a snake can be made a great pet, just like a cat or a dog, or a bird. Many snake-charmers really make pets of their snakes.”

“Excuse me, I’d rather have a dog or a bird any day,” said Dale.

“Or even an old tomcat,” put in Pepper.

The cave was not very wide, indeed it seemed to be merely a split in the rocks and dirt. In one spot the tree-roots were so thick the party had to literally force its way along.

“Be careful,” came in a warning from George Strong. “Don’t get stuck so tight that you can’t get out again.”

“I’ll look out for that,” said Pepper who was in advance.

Presently they reached a spot where the cave divided into three parts. At the bottom of one part flowed a spring of clear, cold water.

“This is fine!” declared Dale, after taking a drink.

“Look out that you don’t swallow a lizard,” said Jack.

“I can tell you what,” declared Pepper, gazing around by the light of the smoky torch, “this would make quite a retreat if it was cleaned out.”

At last they could go no further and began to retrace their steps. At one point they had to crawl over some rocks and under some tree-roots.

“Wonder if I can push the tree up?” cried Dale, by way of a joke, and pressed upward with his back.

“Take care!” cried George Strong, “You may loosen something and get hurt.”

“The rock is shifting!” yelled Jack. “Look out!”

There was a grinding, and all saw that a rock above them was settling down. The teacher, Jack, and Pepper ran in one direction and Dale in another.

An awful noise followed, and the loose dirt flew in all directions. For a minute all were greatly confused.

“Are you boys hurt?” was the first question asked by the assistant teacher.

“I’m all right,” said Pepper.

“So am I,” added Jack.

“Where is Dale?”

“He slipped back, the way he had come.”

“Dale! Dale!” shouted the teacher. No answer came back to the summons.

“Perhaps he was killed!” gasped Pepper.

“Oh, don’t say that,” came from Jack. “Dale! Dale!” he went on loudly.

Still there was no answer, and now all became thoroughly alarmed. George Strong moved over to the rock that had fallen and examined it with care.

“I don’t believe he is under this,” he said. “But he may be caught in some way on the other side.”

“How are we to get at him?” was the question from Pepper.

The torch was dying down and Jack had to work his way out of the cave and find a new pine bough for a light.

“Maybe we can get at him from the top,” suggested Jack. “There seemed to be quite a cave-in there.”

“I will look,” said the teacher.

All hurried outside and to the spot the young major had noticed. The ground was much sunken.

“He is literally buried alive!” cried George, Strong. “We must dig him out, and be quick about it!”

They went at the stones and dirt with vigor, yet taking care that no additional cave-in should result. All they had to work with was a trowel George Strong had brought along and their hands, but despite this drawback they made fair progress.

“I see a hole!” cried Jack, after five minutes of hard work.

“Be careful!” cautioned George Strong again. “Call down to Dale.”

The young major did so, but still there was no answer. The hole was increased in size until it was big enough to admit the passage of a human form. Then the torch was flared below.

“I see him!” said Jack. “He is flat on his back.”

“Does he seem to be caught by the rocks?”

“No.”

The teacher took a look and then ordered that the hole be made a little larger.

“I will lower myself to him,” said George Strong. “Then I will pass him up to you.”

He disappeared into the hole and took the torch with him. Presently he called out, and then they saw him lifting up Dale’s limp form. They caught hold of their chum’s body and drew it to a place of safety.

“He seems to be knocked unconscious,” said Jack, soberly.

They assisted the teacher to the surface above the cave, and then all three turned their attention to Dale. There was a lump on the unconscious boy’s head and a scratch on his chin.

“Get some water and we’ll bathe him,” said George Strong, and this was done, and presently Dale opened his eyes.

“Take it away!” he murmured. “It’s too heavy for me!”

“You’re all right, Dale,” said Jack. “You’re safe.” And then Dale stared around him.

“Wha—what did you say?” he stammered. “Oh, my head!” And he put up his hand.

“You are safe,” said the teacher.

“Didn’t that rock come down on me?”

“It came pretty close to you. It must have grazed your head, and that is what made you unconscious.”

“And how—how did I get here?”

“We dug you out,” said Pepper.

“Oh!” And for the time being the suffering youth said no more.

They continued to bathe his face and wrists, and presently he said he felt better. But George Strong made him wait half an hour before standing on his feet.

“I’m a bit dizzy and light-headed, but that’s all,” declared Dale, when they finally set out for Putnam Hall. “Say, I reckon I had a narrow escape, didn’t I?”

“You did,” answered the teacher.

“Weren’t you caught at all?”

“No.”

“That’s what I get for trying to lift up a tree,” pursued Dale, with a sorry little grin. “No more such foolishness for me!”

They took their time about getting back, and it was long after the supper hour when the academy was reached. George Strong explained matters to Captain Putnam and they had the meal in private.

“That was certainly quite an adventure,” remarked Jack.

“Yes, and one I shouldn’t wish to experience again,” answered Dale. “I shan’t go into another cave in a hurry, take my word on that!”

“I wonder if the cave was ever used for anything?” asked Pepper.

“I do not think so,” returned George Strong. “It was merely a split in the rocks, probably caused by a landslide.”